US3791689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact lens holder
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-11
•
Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1991-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A device designed for holding and aligning corneal lenses during insertion and removal from the eye, where the lens can be held against a lens cup under partial vacuum created by a squeeze bulb, while a fiber-optical light conductor terminating inside the lens cup transmits a pencil of light for convenient alignment with the eye, the latter having an angled-off light receiving axis to eliminate undesirable background interference from the light source.
Inventors
- 👤 R Boone
- 👤 F Pyott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/0061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A device for holding and aligning corneal lenses during insertion and removal from the eye and comprising in combination: an elongated barrel serving as a housing for the device, the barrel having a longitudinal vertical axis and an open upper end; a squeeze bulb of resiliently compressible material arranged inside the barrel so as to protrude from the upper end thereof, the squeeze bulb having an axial opening in its upper end, its midportion being depressible from the outside of the barrel through a lateral opening in the barrel wall; a lens cup at the upper end of the squeeze bulb which is closable by a lens placed upon it from above, the axial opening of the squeeze bulb leading into the bottom of the lens cup; and an optical fiber conductor extending sealingly through the squeeze bulb and through an opening in the barrel wall to the outside of the latter, the light-receiving end of the optical fiber conductor being located in said barrel wall opening, and the light-emitting end of the optical fiber conductor being located in the vicinity of the axial opening of the squeeze bulb in alignment with the center of the lens cup.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A device for holding and aligning corneal lenses during insertion and removal from the eye and comprising in combination: an elongated barrel serving as a housing for the device, the barrel having a longitudinal vertical axis and an open upper end; a squeeze bulb of resiliently compressible material arranged inside the barrel so as to protrude from the upper end thereof, the squeeze bulb having an axial opening in its upper end, its midportion being depressible from the outside of the barrel through a lateral opening in the barrel wall; a lens cup at the upper end of the squeeze bulb which is closable by a lens placed upon it from above, the axial opening of the squeeze bulb leading into the bottom of the lens cup; and an optical fiber conductor extending sealingly through the squeeze bulb and through an opening in the barrel wall to the outside of the latter, the light-receiving end of the optical fiber conductor being located in said barrel wall opening, and the light-emitting end of the optical fiber conductor being located in the vicinity of the axial opening of the squeeze bulb in alignment with the center of the lens cup.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein: the barrel has a closed bottom end, the barrel cavity including a cavity portion below the bottom end of the squeeze bulb; and the optical fiber conductor extends axially through the entire length of the squeeze bulb and further, over a curved conductor portion located in said barrel cavity portion, through the side wall of the barrel, the opening in the barrel wall and the light-receiving end of the optical conductor being oriented substantially radially in relation tO the barrel axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein: the squeeze bulb includes a knob-like protrusion which reaches through the lateral opening in the barrel wall and which can be depressed by a finger to operate the squeeze bulb.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a cap which is engageable with the upper end portion of the barrel to close the latter so as to protect the lens cup, the cap being alternatively engageable with the lower end portion of the barrel to serve as a temporary supporting base for the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as defined in claim 4, wherein: the cap includes at least one sealable compartment for the storage of corneal lenses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2384334A
Cited
US3129971A
Cited
US3091328A
Cited
US3304113A
Cited
US3583795A
Cited
US3600028A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |